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Melissa (Mel) Franz, LCSWA

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate

North Carolina License #P020675

Specialties: OCD · Anxiety Disorders · Eating Disorders · Hoarding · Caregiver Support · Trauma

About Melissa

Welcome—I’m really glad you’re here. If you’ve landed on this page, chances are life feels heavy right now. Whether you’re battling anxiety or OCD, navigating a major transition, facing relationship struggles, or trying to heal from trauma or loss—you're not alone, and you don't have to carry it all by yourself.

I believe that every person has deep worth and the capacity for healing. In our work together, I’ll honor your story while helping you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and connection. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, supported, and genuinely understood.

I work with adults, couples, and families facing anxiety, OCD, stress, trauma, grief, and relational pain. My approach is collaborative and grounded in evidence-based care, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I tailor each session to your needs, using a blend of structure, creativity, and deep listening to guide your process.

Therapy can feel vulnerable—and reaching out is a brave first step. If you're curious about working together, let’s connect for a consultation. You deserve a therapist who feels like the right fit. This is your story, and I’d be honored to walk alongside you for part of it.

Areas of Clinical Focus

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in teens, and adults

  • Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and anxiety

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for hoarding and OCD

  • Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Panic Disorders

  • Eating Disorders and body image concerns

  • Hoarding Disorder: assessment, treatment, and family work

  • Caregiver Support in OCD recovery

  • Trauma & PTSD

  • Disability & Neurodivergence Support

  • Life Transitions (school, college, relocation, divorce/separation, early adulthood)

  • Grief & Loss

  • Peer Relationships, Social Skills & Communication Challenges

  • Family and Couples Therapy

Specialized Training

Mel actively pursues advanced education to ensure her clinical work remains grounded in best practices. Her training includes:

  • Exposure & Ritual Prevention for OCD

  • Treatment of OCD in Adults

  • Supporting Caregivers Through Treatment for OCD

  • Fundamentals of Exposure-Based Therapy for OCD & Anxiety Disorders

  • Young adult OCD: Symptoms & Assessment

  • CBT for Hoarding & Hoarding Assessment

  • Introduction to Eating Disorders & Exposure-Based Interventions

  • Psychodrama: Introduction to Clinical Applications

Therapeutic Approach

Mel’s therapeutic style is structured, relational, and emotionally attuned. She works collaboratively with clients to understand their needs, build on their strengths, and use research-based tools that foster lasting emotional and behavioral change. Her work is informed by clinical expertise and driven by deep compassion.

Getting Started

Melissa offers therapy for individuals and families in North Carolina, with telehealth appointments available for flexibility and accessibility.